After a few hours of flying, the family of four returned to Silver Dragon Castle.

Noa and Muen felt a little tired and went straight back to their shared room to rest upon landing.

The couple didn’t exchange many words, either—

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to talk; it’s just that they didn’t know what to say. After all, last night’s “conversation” had been far too “intimate,” leaving them both a little awkward seeing each other now.

Standing at their respective bedroom doors, hands resting on the doorknobs,

Both of them hesitated at the same time, slowing their movements.

It seemed they were both waiting for the other to say something.

The doorknob turned slowly, the lock mechanism clicking—

“Uh...” Leon spoke first.

“Hm?” Roswitha glanced sideways at him.

“Can you do a live performance for me…”

Roswitha frowned, the small spark of hope rising in her eyes quickly replaced by a sense of foreboding.

“A performance of what?” she asked.

Leon opened his door. “You know, that one: Oh, Rubber Duckie, you're the one

You make bath time lots of fun

Rubber Duckie, I'm awfully fond of you”

What an asshole!

Roswitha felt a surge of anger rise within her.

She narrowed her eyes, inhaling deeply, “Leon, have we perhaps forgotten something?”

Leon froze, his smile stiffening.

“That night when we got the report about Noa’s fight, what were we originally going to do? Hm?”

Leon subtly pressed down on the doorknob, ready to flee at the first opportunity. “Uh... I forgot, what was it? Having dinner?”

“Dinner? Ha, more like eating *you*.”

*Thud—*

Leon pushed his door open, rushing inside and attempting to shut it behind him, but Roswitha reacted swiftly. Her hand slapped flat against the door, stopping it from closing.

She slowly leaned her head through the gap between the door and its frame, like a grim reaper emerging from the shadows. “Take ten minutes, shower, and come to my room. Tonight, Teacher Melkevi has a special lesson for you—and remember, don’t go around blabbing other people’s embarrassing pasts.”

*Bang—*

Roswitha released the door and closed it with finality.

Leon stood frozen in the entryway, staring into the void for a few seconds before slapping his own face.

“This mouth of mine… Why can’t it ever behave?”

Still, didn’t this prove his theory? That embarrassing her with her embarrassing past was the ultimate trump card for getting under the Silver Dragon Queen’s skin?

Sure, her reaction meant he’d face some “punishment,” but at least she got flustered. Right?

And that’s exactly what Leon wanted.

As for the consequences his body would endure? Well, if it broke, it broke.

The noble pursuit of dragon-slaying couldn’t possibly come without sacrifice.

“Distract the Silver Dragon Queen? That’s my sacred duty!”

---

Ten minutes later.

“Don’t... don’t be too harsh... I know I was wrong.”

Roswitha held the small leather whip from before, sitting primly atop Leon’s abdomen in a duck-like posture. After so many days, that familiar sense of control had returned.

And hey, there was no place better for these “games” than the comfort of one’s own bed!

“Well, Leon,” Roswitha settled fully into her “teacher” persona.

Leon sighed, closed his eyes, and reluctantly replied, “Yes.”

“This time, you scored *zero* on your exam again, didn’t you?”

“Uh…”

“You fell asleep during the test again, didn’t you?”

“You’re really committed to this role, aren’t you, dragon?”

“Watch your tone!”

*Whip—*

The tiny leather whip snapped against Leon’s chest. It sounded loud, but they both knew it didn’t land with much force.

After all, they weren't really into BDSM.

Roswitha’s goal was simple: to make Leon feel awkward and embarrassed. Nothing more.

“I’m your teacher. How dare you talk to me like that?”

Leon looked at her serious expression and slowly realized—it wasn’t that she was too deep into the role.

No, this was her way of using playful roleplaying to make him feel extra humiliated.

Additionally, Roswitha’s choice of roles was pointedly deliberate.

She was the teacher, and Leon the disobedient, misbehaving student.

It perfectly paralleled what had happened during her weakened days—where Leon “misbehaved” and caused “trouble.”

Now? Now it was time for him to make amends.

“I’m sorry... Teacher, I will study hard in the future and not sleep during exams,” Leon said, swallowing his overwhelming embarrassment. His face flushed red as if it was about to combust.

“Hmph. That’s a little better.”

Just as Leon began to breathe a sigh of relief, Roswitha smirked. Victory wouldn’t come so easily.

“Do you want class to end, Leon?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Leon nodded furiously like a bobblehead.

“Alright then... Did you turn in your homework?”

Leon froze, blinking in confusion. “What... homework?”

*Whap—*

“*Ow*! You *actually* hit me, dragon! That hurt!”

“You don’t even know what homework you have, and yet you dare claim you’ll study harder?”

Leon swallowed hard.

Realizing that ending tonight’s “lesson” quickly required full cooperation, he gritted his teeth.

“I… I humbly ask Teacher to repeat the assignment. I’ll listen carefully this time.”

“Oh? What a rare moment of humility from my student.”

“Haha, Teacher, you’re so good with humor.”

“Hm, well, today’s homework isn’t written, you see... it’s…”

She dropped the whip, leaning forward slightly, letting her long silver hair part as her collar slipped, revealing soft, supple curves and a faint Dragon Mark etched on her skin.

“To make Teacher’s Dragon Mark light up.”

Roswitha’s hand traced small circles on Leon’s chest with her fingertip. “Hurry up with your homework, Leon. Don’t dawdle~”

In any other context, this would be interpreted as Roswitha demanding that Leon take the initiative.

Same old wine in a new bottle.

Leon gripped the bedsheets tightly. “Sorry, Teacher... I don’t think I know how to do this assignment.”

“Oh my, I taught you this in class already. How could you not know?”

Roswitha gently guided Leon’s hand to her waist, allowing his fingers to feel the soft curve of her body.

Leon swallowed again.

“Let Teacher help you review, then. Like this... slowly, feel it out~~”

She leaned closer, her warm breath washing over Leon’s face, her soothing fragrance enveloping him like an irresistible tide.

Strands of her silver hair hung low, brushing against his nose. They tickled—soft and feathery.

Leon struggled to suppress his instincts.

But alas…

Your final boss is the Dragon Mark.

Roswitha’s cheeks gradually flushed red. She glanced down to see the shimmering glow of her Dragon Mark.

“Well done, Leon. You’ve mastered the homework in no time~”

Leon turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze. “I… I’ve completed the homework. Right? Can we stop here?”

He knew deep down they were far from being “done,” but there was no harm in trying.

“Oh, of course not~”

And just like that—his hopes shattered instantly.

“That was just a small pop quiz. Leon, you’ve yet to officially turn in your homework.”

The Dragon Mark began resonating faintly.

Once again, Leon found himself defeated by the Silver Dragon Queen.

It was paradoxical—while victories seemed repetitive and uninspired, the methods of his defeat were endlessly inventive.

Leon’s mouth went dry, and restless heat surged through his body.

His hands roamed upward along Roswitha’s waist.

Roswitha arched her neck slightly, eyes closed, basking in the pleasure of his touch.

“Leon… so naughty…”

Leon began tackling his domestic “homework” project.

Gripping the metaphorical pen, he scribbled furiously across the “assignment sheet.”

Each stroke of the pen was brisk and deliberate, the soft scrape upon smooth parchment producing rhythmic, hushed notes. Fine cracks and errors inevitably emerged from the feverish pace, but thankfully, Roswitha had lovingly prepared plenty of correction fluid for him.

A collaborative effort unfolded between teacher and student. Over an hour later, Leon submitted his “completed assignment.”

Roswitha smiled, removing the corrections to review his work. She handed it back to Leon for final inspection and approval.

Once everything was confirmed and checked over, Leon finally asked, “Teacher… am I free to leave now?”

“Hm? Oh no, not yet.”

“What?! Why not? I’ve already turned in my homework!”

“You’ve only finished one subject’s homework. There are still six more subjects to complete.”

Leon: ?!?

“Teacher, you’re a total homework tyrant!”

“Less whining, more working, Leon. And brace yourself for an all-nighter!”

---

The glow from within the room burned brightly as the “dedicated student” toiled tirelessly over his assignments.

A long and arduous night lay ahead.

Some flames that burn slowly cannot be extinguished prematurely.

Because, eventually, all fires must break loose and reach their full blaze.

It’s always about one thing: Better late than never.

(Big Sister: So all the flirting I witnessed at home was part of your “roleplaying,” huh?)